Pillows can hold types of asthma or sickness-causing bacteria.

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus live on dirty toothbrush holder.

Your set of keys can pick up bacteria from a lot of unexpected places.

Shoelaces get splashed with all sorts of germs and dirt.

Do you religiously wash your bedding and towels every week? It’s a good thing to keep your house clean on a regular basis. But you might want to know about a few, maybe more surprising, things which need a good slick up.

Pillows

Who knew that pillows could hold types of asthma or sickness-causing bacteria that leave you feeling unwell? But, this is true and has been validated by previous studies. There also are mites, mould and dead skin hiding in the stuffing, with the synthetic type collecting a lot more germs than other pillows, as the fibres aren't woven as tightly, thus allowing things to seep in.

Cleaning Tip: To rinse your pillow thoroughly, simply check the label for washing instructions, as it depends on the type you have. It may even have to be taken to the dry cleaners; but think of the illnesses you could be avoiding.

Toothbrush Holder

Yes, the bristles of your toothbrush may be shiny and toothpaste-free after a brush, but if you're putting it back into a dirty container, then you may as well neglect it. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus, which can cause infections such as boils, have been linked to grubby holders and scientists previously concluded that people often put their toothbrush in the dirtiest spot in their bathroom.

Cleaning Tip: Cleaning this one is simple; simply rinse it out and give it a good clean with washing up liquid or pop it in the dishwasher. Leave to dry thoroughly until no drips of water are left and repeat this process around twice a week.

Keys

A less obvious item is your set of keys. From being in your pocket to twisting through a lock, they're coated in germs and most of us don't think to clean them or to wash our hands after holding them.

Cleaning Tip: Just give them a once over with a wet wipe every now and then to keep them shiny and bacteria-free.

Shoelaces

Yes, most of you may not think about it, but it isn't so surprising that your shoelaces harbour bacteria. On a rainy day they can get splashed with all sorts of germs and dirt, especially if you're in particularly muddy grounds. Tying them could be a recipe for disaster and may give you all sorts of illnesses.

Cleaning Tip: Place your shoelaces (obviously, after removing them from the shoes) in hot soapy water to clean them out before washing them with the rest of your clothes. But make sure they're tucked into something, so they don't catch the inside of machine. That will only give you dirty laces and a broken washer.

Bacteria are outsmarting us. Every day they grow better at eluding the drugs we apply against them. Until science doesn’t find a permanent solution, we will have to combat them on our own, to be safe. So, practise proper hygiene and ward off nasty infections for good.

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